Armed Men Kidnap Village Chief in Nigeria

Mohammed Boukium, an official in the village of Nasarawa-Burkullo in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, stated on Saturday that unknown attackers kidnapped four people from the village, including its leader, late Friday night. Boukium added that the remaining three abducted individuals are farmers and that the kidnappers demanded a ransom, without providing further details. Armed gangs have been wreaking havoc in northwestern Nigeria for years, during which they have kidnapped thousands, killed hundreds, and made road travel and agricultural activities in some areas unsafe.